Black Marlin Energy begins second Seychelles seismic survey
Sept. 28, 2009
Black Marlin Energy, East African Exploration (EAX), and Avana Petroleum have begun a second seismic survey in the Seychelles using Seabird Exploration’s vessel Geomariner.
Offshore staff
DUBAI, UAE -- Black Marlin Energy, East African Exploration (EAX), and Avana Petroleum have begun a second seismic survey in the Seychelles using Seabird Exploration’s vessel Geomariner. The original 3,650-km (2,268-mi) 2D survey, acquired in 2007 using an 8,000-m (26,247-ft) cable, identified an extensive and deep sedimentary section between and around the granitic islands. The granitic features are linked to those that underpin the Bombay High field and flank the Cambay basin on the west coast of the Indian subcontinent, the companies say.
The new 1,100-km (684-mi) 2D survey is designed to better image the potential reservoirs in the tilted fault blocks and to further delineate the leads mapped in the southern third of tranche A. It will complete the group’s seismic commitment under the first exploration period of the Petroleum Agreement (PA).
The survey area includes large structures in shallow and deepwater targets and is close to wells drilled by Amoco in 1980/81. The wells had significant oil shows, which correlate to tar balls occasionally found on Seychelles beaches, suggesting an active, indigenous hydrocarbon system, the companies say.
